Good morning, everyone. Welcome, and have a good week. May this be a month of peace, brotherhood, mercy, and forgiveness.
Today, Osher chose a topic that we have discussed before. It is a very interesting topic, which must mean that it is also very pressing and prevalent. We all know what it is; you do not need my introduction. The topic is worry—worry.
When Elul arrives, people become worried. I know—who does not become worried? We pour out our words and ask the Master of masters to forgive us for everything we have done. Then a person starts wondering: What should I repent for? What should be my one step of repentance? What step should I take to come closer to God? He starts worrying about it. He has to begin looking inward and contemplating. I think I am pretty perfect, so I do not know what I am supposed to find—but in any case, the person keeps thinking: What am I supposed to do? That itself becomes a worry.
A person worries about how the coming year will be. That is another worry. The person starts worrying. What does the Torah say about worry? I will tell you: The Torah’s approach is that a person is not supposed to worry.
What is the most gratifying part of the entire Amidah? You know what I think? For me, the most gratifying part of the Amidah—the part that makes me relax, gives me a little respite, and gives me tranquility—is when we say, “In You we have placed our trust.”
God, we ask You for everything. We ask for healing, for livelihood, for peace, and for all these wonderful things. Then comes that one line. Those three words say it all: “In You we have placed our trust.” Creator of the world, we are not relying on our merits. We are not worried, and we are not relying on our capabilities or abilities. We are relying on Your kindness.
God, look how far You have brought me. Look where You have brought me. Look how You have raised me. You taught me how to walk. You taught me how to talk. You taught me how to feel. You gave me a wife. You gave me a family. You gave me a livelihood until now. Am I now going to give up on You? Am I now no longer going to trust You?
It is like a person who has a wealthy father. Everything is through “Daddy Bank.” He says, “I want a car”—Daddy Bank. “I want to go on a trip”—Daddy Bank. He keeps going back to his father. Does he ever feel that he is a beggar? No. It is his father.
A father might tell his child, “Go on your own,” but God never says, “Go on your own.” God never says that you are alone. God says, “I am with you. I am always with you.”
Not only that, but the rabbis say that the more we trust in God, the more the Holy One, blessed be He, shows us that we can rely on Him. When you take one step closer, God takes one step closer to you.
The rabbis also say that when a person becomes worried, there is no point in worrying and no point in becoming stressed. If there is something you can do about it, then do it. If there is nothing you can do about it, there is nothing you can do. Why am I stressing? What am I worried about? What is the problem?
It is like watching a movie. The person in the movie is in a difficult predicament, and you are watching to see whether he will make it or not, whether he will survive or not, and whether his plan will work or not. You become worried about him. But why are you worried about him? The movie has already been completed. It is already playing. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. Why are you worried about the person? It makes no difference. It is done.
The Creator of the world is directing our movie. He is the director. There is no reason to worry. If there is something you can do about it, then do it. If there is nothing you can do about it, do not worry, because the Creator of the world is the greatest expression of “In You we have placed our trust.” There is no greater trust than trusting in God.
“In God we trust.” That is why it should be on the dollar. You think it is you. You think it is your money, your wherewithal, your potential, or your strength. But “In God we trust.” Please comment, and have a good day.